Steering-gear



D, W. IONES.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.29. 191s.

1,392,646, A Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

Vpanying drawing wherein 25 eine.

DAVID w. Jones, ,or omesso, 'ILLiivois sTEnEiNe-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedct. a, 1921.

Application led November 29, 1918. Serial No. 264,580.

Vuse on motor driven trucks and the like; at.

the same time providing a construction which may beV easily manipulated and bev smooth in its operation, and at the same time possessing great wearing quality and yet be simple in construction.

The advantages above` enumerated, well as others inherent in the construction, will be readily comprehended from the following detailed vdescription of the accom- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken through the steering gear, with portions ofthe handle shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is an Velevationof the lower portion of the steering gear, illustratinv the outer casing or housing, the view eing takenV from a point at right angles to Fig- 1. n n, v

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,.loolring in the directiongof, the arrows.

Asmy invention relates to `the, steering gear proper, namelyto mechanism whereby rotation ofthe steering column or shaft will transmit movement to the steering wheels by means `of the usual steering rod or link, the specific construction and method of mounting the steering column and other motor control mechanisms will not be described.

In the particular eXempliiication of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, the steering shaft 5 is shown inclosed in a suitable column. or outer shell 6 on which is shown suitably mounted the usual carbu-V arm 14- by means of bolt or pinV 15.

asylower .end of the arm 14 is pivotally conas shown in Fig. 1, wherev the end is shown somewhat reduced and has rotatable bearing in the internal web or iiange 9 of the outer casing or housing 10; the lower end 'of the shaft 5 being provided with suitable bushing, as at 11, which is disposed in a suitable aperture formedin the flange or web 9 of the housing so asto provide .a suitable bearing for the shaft. v

Theworm portion 8 of the shaft is surf rounded by a nut shown preferably in the form of a split sleeve 12 internally threaded to mesh with the worm portion' 8 so as to travellengthwise thereof whenthe shaft 5 is rotated.

The elongated nut on sleeve 12 has one side thereof provided with a lobe or ear, as

at 13, to whichV is pivotally connected an The nected by means of pin 16 to a rocker-arm 17, theopposite end whereof is either keyed or` integrally secured to the trunnion 18 which has suitable bearing in the housing or casinglO.; v. l

The trunnion 18 extends into and through a laterally disposed hub portion 19 of the housing 10, see. Fig. 2. |IheV end of the trunnion vor stub-shaft 18, which extends through to the exterior of the housing, is there provided with a lever 20, to which the usual steering linl or reach rod is intended to be secured, whereby movement is Vtransmitted 'to the steering arms or mechanism which control the forward or steering wheels of the motor driven vehicle.V

The elongated nut or sleeve 12 is shown provided, with lobes, as at 21, adapted to receive bolts,ras at 22 in Fig. 3, whereby the nut or sleeve may be firmly contracted or drawn into snug or operative relation with the worm or sleeve-engaging portion 8 of the shaft 5. Y

The outer housing or casing 10 is preferably bisected. or made in two sections, as shown in the drawing, to facilitate the assembling of the mechanism; the two sections being shown provided with correlated lugs having registering openings for the passage of suitable bolts, as at 23. The construction of the casing or housing, as shown, permits ready access to the mechanism within as is apparent; and this housing 10 may in turn be provided with suitable lugs as at 24, 24 whereby it may be suitably bolted to the supporting frame or bracket, as illustrated for example at 25 in Fig. 1. Of course, it will be understood that any suitable means of support for the steering gear may be employed suitable to any particular situation.

Y In order to overcome any turning tendency on the part of the elongated nut or sleeve 12 and at the same time provide suitable slide-' way therefor, I have shown each section of the housing or casing 10 provided with an elongated rib, as at 26, which may be suitably machined or surfaced. The ribs 26 are placed so as to Contact with and provide a lsmooth surface for the heads of the pivot pin or bolt 15 during movement of the nut or sleeve lengthwise of the worm portion of the shaft 5.

It is evident from the construction shown and described that rotation in one direction of shaft 5 will cause nut or sleeve 12 to move .downwardly von Athe worm portion of the shaft, inducing link vor arm 14 to oscillate rocker-arm 17 toward the lower end of hous- Ving 10 and therefore also rotate the trun' nion or stub-shaft 18. Such rotation of trunnion 18 will induce the lever 2O to oscillate toward the left in Fig. 1. On the other hand, rotation of shaft 5 in the'opposite direction will cause the elongated sleeve or nut 12 tocride upwardly on the V,threaded portion 8 ofthe shaft causing an upward pull to be exerted on rocker-arm 17'through the medium of link or arm 14, so that lever 20 will be swungin the opposite direction from that previously mentioned.

As is clearly evident from the construction, its operation will be' extremely easy and quickly responsive, while at the same time possessing great strength and positiveness in the transmission of the desired movement. Furthermore, the construction provides smoothness in operation, while at the Sametime possessing ties.Y

I havehown and described what I believe to be Ythe simplest and best adaptation ofV my invention, but modifications may be made in certain details without, however, departing from the spirit of the invention.

great wearing qualil. A steering gear, comprising a two-partl housing,a web disposed transversely from frarm'.

one wall of the housing at a point removed from the lower, end and terminating at a point removed from the opposite wall of the housing, a shaft rotatably mounted at its j lower end in said web, each part of the housing being provided Vwith an elongated rib arranged inopposing relation and disposed parallel with the shaft, a single member encircling said shaft and having operative relation therewith whereby rotation of the yshaft will cause said member to travel lengthwise ofy the housing, said member be-V ing provided with ai laterally disposedportion adapted to slide. between said ribs to prevent rotative movement of said member, a lever oscillatingly mounted in-thelower part of said housing, a rocker'arm vdisposed transversely within the'housing beneath saidV web and having operative relation with said lever, and an arm disposed lengthwise intermediatev of the web and theopposing wall of the housing, said arm being connected to said member andone end of said rocker arm whereby movement of the member will in.- p

duce oscillation of said lever.

2. Steering gear, comprising.l a housing Vcomposed-of two sections removably/secured together, each section Vbeing provided with a corresponding'transversely disposed web, each section being also provided with oppossoA ingly disposed elongated ribs, a screw shaft rotation of said sleeve member, a rockerarm disposed transversely Vbeneath the lower end Vof said shaft with one end thereof rotatively. secured in the housing sections,- and an arm lhaving one end Y pivotally secured to"V said sleeve member while the other end is pivotally secured to the free end of said rocker DAVID W. JONES. Witnesses: F. A. FLoRnLL, f

G. HEIDMAN. 

